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Athens police deny murder of youth |
There is no dispute that a veteran police officer called Epaminondas Korkoneas fired the shot that pierced the schoolboy's heart and killed him.
What the prosecution will claim is that the policeman aimed directly at Alexandros Grigoropoulos.
Ballistic tests on the bullet and service pistol will be the key evidence, as will that of friends of Alexandros who were with him in the rebellious Athenian district of Exarchia when the shooting took place.
The boy's family have been hurt by accusations made shortly after his death, that Alexandros was a troublemaker.
The family spokesman, Andreas Constantinou insists he was an innocent teenager.
Both the boy's family and the main police union have objected to the trial taking place so far from Athens.
The family believes the distance will make it difficult for key witnesses to attend. The police regard the move as an insult that implies they could not guarantee security in the Greek capital.
The restricted number of access roads into Amfissa has given the authorities a chance to prevent large numbers of potential rioters from getting through.
But shopkeepers in the town have pulled down the shutters in anticipation that they will bear the brunt of anti-establishment wrath.
By Malcolm Brabant
BBC News, Athens
source www.bbc.co.uk/news
